Key-actuating engine-starting crank.



J. G. ARMBRUSTER.

KEY AGTUATING ENGINE STARTING GRANK.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT. 3, 1910.

1,005,496, Patented Oct. A10, 1911.

www, @YZ/mz@ f Tan sTaTns TaTsn'T FFH/E JOHN C. ARMBRUSTER, F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO I v ERNST A. .ARMBRUSTER, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.^

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, JOHN C. ARMBRUSTER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key Act-1r ating Engine-Starting Cranks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description -of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide a simple and efxicient key and lock controlled startingcrank for explosive engines and to this end the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and 'defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.y

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section showing the improved key and lock .controlled starting crank, some parts being broken away. Figs. 2 and 3 are views partly in' plan and partly in horizontal section showing the improved crank; Fig. 4 is 'an 'end elevat-ion of the crank, some parts being broken away; Fig. 5 is a transverse i sectiontaken on the line m5 m5 of Fig. l; and ig. 6 is a transverse section taken on the line w me of Fig. 2. 4

The lever 1 of the .st-arting'crank is provided witha long sleevelike hub 2 in which is mounted a pair` of cooperating clutch members 3 and 4 having Ainterlocking teeth at their abutting faces. The clutch member 4 is provided with a reduced stem por tion \5, to the outer end of which issecured a ratchet toothed head 6, the teeth of which are adapted to engage, in the customary way, with ratchet teeth on'the shaft of the explosive engine, not shown, and to adapt the said head 6 for such application, it 1s made hollow. The stem portion 5 is journaled in a sleevelike bearing 7, the reduced end of which is screwed into the hollow end of the lever hub 2. In this way the clutch member 4 and head 6 are held against endwise movements in respect to the lever hub 2 but, are free to rotate in respect thereto.

The clutch member 3 is free for .slidin Y movements Within the lever hub 2 but is hel Speciication of Letters Patent.

Application 1ed October 3, 19.10.

KEY-ACTUATING ENGINE-STARTING CRANK.

Patented Oct. 310,. 1911.;

serial No. 584,966.

for rotation therewith, preferably by lugs 3a on said clutch member 3 that engage in slots 2a formed in the interior of the said hub (see particularly Figs. 3 and 6). A rotary clutch operating bolt or stem 8 is rotatively mounted in the outer portion of the level hub 2, has threaded engagement with the clutch member 3, and itself is held against endwisemovements so that by rotation thereof the clutch member may be engaged with or disengaged from the clutch member 4. Preferably, the threads of the bolt 8 are made quadrupleand of such pitch that one rotation thereof will be sufficient to move the clutch member 3 from its normal inoperative position shown in Fig. 2 into its operative position shown in Fig. l, or vice versa.

Different kinds of key actuated locks may beemployed in connection with this improved crank but I preferably employ the small tumbler lock of well known Yale or Eagle types. The barrel or case 9 of this lock is seated within and rigidly secured to the outer end of the lever hub 2, and its rotating tumbler l0 is flexibly connected by a link ll to the outer end of the rotary bolt 8. The key for operating the tumbler 10 is indicated by the numeral l2.

As is evident, when the clutch member 3 is disengaged from the clutch member 4, as shown in Fig. 2, the startingcrank is rendered absolutely inoperative and cannot possibly be used to start the engine, inasmuch as the lever l and its hub will freely rotate in respect to the clutch member 4, and the clutch head 6. When, however, the clutch member 3 is engaged with the clutch mem-v ber 4, the ratchet head 6 is then rigidly secured for rotation with the lever l and the crank is then adapted for use in the usual way to crank the engine.

Obviously, the main purpose .of this invention is to provide a simple and etlicient means for preventing thieves or unauthorized persons from starting the'explosive engine of an automobile, and for this purpose the device has been found highly efficient. It is, however, capable of more general use than that just stated.

Various devices have been devised for preventing automobiles from being stolen or used by persons having no right thereto. .So far as I am aware, I am the rst to provide la starting crank which is adaptedfoo be rendered operative and inoperative at will by means of a key and lock applied to the said crank. 4

What I claim is: t

1. The combination With a starting crank provided With a hub, of a shaft rotatively mounted in the projected end of said hub, and provided Within said hub with a coupling clutch member, and provided outside of said hub with a clutch for connection to an engine'driven shaft, a second coupling clutch member held for rotation but mounted for sliding movements Within said crank hub, to connect and disconnect said shaft to said hub, and a key actuated means for moving the said sliding clutch member, substantially as described.

The combination With a starting crank ha 1ing a hub and provided aty its extended end with a movable sleeve and at its crank end With a key actuated tumbler, a short sli'aft journaled in the sleeve of said hub and provided at its outer end With a clutch for connection to an engine driyen shaft, and provided Within the crank hub With a coupling clutch, a coperating coupling clutch mounted to rotate with, but for sliding movements Within said hub, and la noos/aaa threaded stem connected to theisai'd latter coupling clutch and the said key actuated.

tumbler, substantially as described.

3. A starting crank for explosive engines comprising a lever having a sleevelike hub, a clutch member normally free to rotate in said hub but held against endwise move` ments and provided outsidev of said lever hub with a ratchet head, a second clutch member in said hub free for axial movements but held for rotation lWith said lever hub, an operating bolt having threaded engagement with said axially movable clutch a lock secured in the outer end pormember provided with a tion of said lever hub and key actuated rotary. l and operating the said threaded bolt, Where- Aby the said clutch members may be engaged and disengaged at will by oscillation 'oi' said key actuated lock tumbler..

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

l,JOHN o. ,AnMBnUsTEn Witnesses FRANK D. MERCHANT, HARRY D. KILe'oRn..

tumbler connect-ed toV 

